Printing apparatus or system for recording a color image

ABSTRACT

A printing apparatus or system has CCDs for reading out image data from an original or originals, a memory for storing the image data, a plurality of recording sections with recording heads, a control for controlling the overall circuitry and mechanical parts. A desired number of copies in black or in color can be produced within a short period of time in accordance with the size of the original image and/or color. A red image which does not require high resolution as much as a black image is automatically reproduced with lower resolution while maintaining high resolution at black portion of the same image. A plurality of recording sections may be equally used for printing only a small number of copies.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 671,025,filed Nov. 14, 1984, now abandoned, which in turn is a continuation ofU.S. Ser. No. 618,460, filed June 8, 1984, now abandoned which in turnis a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 370,463, filed Apr. 21, 1982, nowabandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a printing apparatus or system forforming an image on a recording medium.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Various types of recording apparatuses are known including copyingmachines utilizing electrophotography or inkjet recording apparatuses.However, in order to reproduce the image of the same original or samesource on a plurality of recording paper sheets (especially in differentmodes), the same recording procedure must be performed a correspondingnumber of times. This means that reproduction of hard copies of adesired number requires time which is the product of the time requiredfor a single recording operation and the desired number of hard copies.

With a conventional recording apparatus, in order to produce a pluralityof copies from a plurality of originals or from a plurality of pieces ofdata, the recording operation must be performed a plurality of times foreach original. Therefore, an external sorter is required to sort therecording paper sheets with images formed thereon according to theproper order.

When the printing apparatus has a plurality of recording sections orrecording heads, the frequency that the individual recording sections orheads are used may differ from one another, resulting in fatigue at apredetermined recording section. Clogging of ink is caused at recordingsections which are used less frequently.

The conventional printing apparatus has one output section for the copy.Therefore, if the printed paper sheet is left unremoved, this results ininconvenience of another operator.

If recording in black is performed at 16 dot/mm density in the fine modewith a printing apparatus for printing black and polychromatic images,the recording in other colors than black is performed in the fine modeas well. However, the use of colors other than black such as red islimited; for example, red is used mainly for underlying or markingportions of black originals. Therefore, a high resolution is not so muchrequired for recording in other colors than black. For this reason,recording in colors other than black at a density same as that forrecording in black results in high manufacturing cost of the overallapparatus and is very uneconomical.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatusor system which solves the problems of the prior art printingapparatuses.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a printingapparatus or system which is capable of shortening the time for printinga plurality of copies.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide animprovement in a printing apparatus or system having an electronicsorter function.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide aprinting apparatus which is capable of outputting an image stored in amemory through a predetermined output section.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a copyingmachine which is capable of printing out the image within a short periodof time from the readout operation of the original and which is capableof storing the readout data in the memory.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide aprinting apparatus which is capable of printing in accordance with thekind of image data stored in the memory.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide aprinting apparatus which is capable of changing the image (resolution)quality mode according to the recording color.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide animprovement in a printing apparatus or system which is capable ofprinting on recording media of different sizes.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide animprovement in a printing apparatus or system which is capable ofprinting an image on a recording medium with a multihead.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide animprovement in a printing apparatus or system which is capable ofprinting by inkjet operations.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide animprovement in a copying machine or system which reads image data on anoriginal, converts the readout data into electric signals, and prints animage on the basis of the electric signals.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a printingapparatus or system comprises generating means for generating image datarepresenting an image, memory means connected to the generating meansfor storing image data generated by the generating means and a pluralityof recording sections or heads connected to the generatng means and thememory means for recording the image a number of times on a number ofrecording media on the basis of the image data from the generatingmeans, wherein when the number of times the image is to be recorded isin excess of the number of the recording sections or heads, the excessnumber of image recordings are performed by the recording sections orheads on the basis of image data read out from the memory means.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, aprinting apparatus or system comprises generating means for generatingcolor image data respesenting a color image including a number ofcolors, forming means connected to the generating means for forming acolor image on a recording medium in plural image quality modesdifferent from each other on the basis of the color image data from thegenerating means and selecting means connected to the forming means forselecting one of the image quality modes, each corresponding to a colorincluded in the color image represented by the color image datagenerated by the generating means.

In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, aprinting apparatus or system comprises memory means for storing imagedata representing an image, readout means connected to the memory meansfor repeatedly reading out the same image data stored in the memorymeans, image forming means connected to the memory means and beingrepeatedly operable for forming images on a recording medium inaccordance with the image data repeatedly read out by the readout means,a plurality of receptacles connected to the image forming means forreceiving recording media on which images have been formed by the imageforming means, inputting means connected to the readout means and theimage forming means for inputting numerical data determining the numberof image formation operations to be performed by the image forming meansand control means connected to the image forming means for causing theimage-bearing recording media produced by the number of image formationoperations performed by the image forming means to be fed to a selectedone of the receptacles.

In accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention, aprinting apparatus or system comprises reading means for reading animage of an original in a reading position relative to the reading meansand generating image data representing the original, a memory connectedto the reading means for storing image data representing a plurality oforiginals read by the reading means, exchanging means connected to thereading means for automatically exchanging one original in the readingposition relative to the reading means with another original, meansconnected to the memory and the exchanging means for storing image datacorresponding to a particular original in the memory and then allowingsaid exchanging means to exchange the particular original for anotheroriginal and printing means connected to the memory for printing animage in accordance with the image data stored in the memory.

In accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention, aprinting apparatus or system comprises generating means for generatingimage data, the image data representing a plurality of original imagesdifferent from each other, memory means connected to the generatingmeans for storing image data generated by the generating meansrepresenting a plurality of original images and recording meansconnected to the generating means and the memory means for recordingimages on a recording medium on the basis of image data supplied to therecording means, wherein the image data representing the original imagesgenerated by the generating means are supplied to the recording meansand are stored in the memory means while the recording means recordsoriginal images one at a time, and thereafter the memory meanssequentially supplies to the recording means the image data stored inthe memory means corresponding to a plurality of originals and therecording means records the original images.

In accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention, aprinting apparatus or system comprises a memory for storing image datarepresenting an image, image forming means connected to the memory forforming an image on a recording medium on the basis of the image datastored in the memory, monitoring means connected to the memory formonitoring the size of an image represented by the image data stored inthe memory and control means connected to the image forming means andthe monitoring means for controlling the image forming means inaccordance with the size monitored by the monitoring means.

In accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention, aprinting apparatus or system comprises generating means for generatingimage data representing an image, a plurality of recording sections orheads connected to the generating means adapted to record an image on arecording medium on the basis of the image data generated by thegenerating means and selecting means connected to the recording sectionsor heads or selecting at least one of the recording sections or heads torecord the image, wherein the selecting means performs the selectiondepending on which of the recording sections or heads is being used.

The above and the other objects and features of the present inventionwill become apparent from the following description of the inventionwhen taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a printing apparatus or systemaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing an example of a readout device forthe apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control for the apparatus shown in FIG.1;

FIG. 4 composed of FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B is a flowchart showing an exampleof a control sequence for the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 5 to 7, 9 composed of FIG. 9A and FIGS. 9B and 10 are flowchartsof other examples of the control sequence for the apparatus shown inFIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of another example of a control;

FIG. 11 is a schematic sectional view showing a recording apparatus orsystem according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing an example of a readout device ofthe apparatus shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 composed of FIG. 13A and FIG. 13B is a block diagram of acontrol for the apparatus shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is a block diagram of another example of a control for theapparatus shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 15 is a block diagram of a picture element density convertingcircuit; and

FIG. 16 is a circuit diagram of a color discriminating circuit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be describedwith reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows the firstembodiment of the present invention, which has a first recording section100, a second recording section 200, and a third recording section 300.The first through third recording sections 100, 200 and 300 haverecording heads which are, in the case of this embodiment, inkjet heads112, 212 and 312. Each inkjet head is of a full-line type wherein aplurality of recording elements (ink nozzles or orifices) are linearlyaligned in the direction normal to the plane of the drawing. Theseinkjet heads 112, 212 and 312 are driven by electric signals from a datasource shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 for recording. These recording sections100, 200 and 300 and the readout device of FIG. 2 are vertically alignedin three steps by supports (not shown). However, these recordingsections may be incorporated in the form of units and may be separatelyarranged. The respective recording sections only differ from one anotherin the arrangement for control and are the same in the other mechanisms.

Recording paper sheets 101, 201, and 301 are held in recording papersheet cassettes 115, 215 and 315. The printing apparatus of thisembodiment further has pickup rollers 102, 202, 302; guide plates 103,203 and 303; register rollers 104, 204 and 304; first feed rollers 105,205 and 305; platens 106, 206 and 306 with small holes; suction fans107, 207 and 307; second feed rollers 108, 208 and 308; suspensionrollers 109, 209 and 309; convey belts 110, 210 and 310; exhaust trays111, 211 and 311; recording heads or inkjet heads 112, 212 and 312; andink tanks 113, 213 and 313.

The mode of operation of the printing apparatus of the configuration asdescribed above will be described. Since the recording sections 100, 200and 300 all operate in the same manner, a description will only be madeon the first recording section 100.

The recording paper sheet 101 stored in the cassette 115 is fed to theregister roller 104 held in the stationary status along the guide plate103 upon the rotation of the pickup roller 102 to form a loop. With therotation of the register roller 104, the recording paper sheet 101 isclamped between the register roller 104 and the first feed rollers 105to be fed toward the inkjet head 112. The fan 107 and the platen 106with small holes oppose the inkjet head 112. Air is blown by the fan 107in the direction indicated by arrow T in the figure. The recording papersheet 101 past the first feed rollers 105 is transferred onto the platen106 toward the second feed rollers 108 while it is drawn by the fan 107.

The inkjet head 112 is a full-line type inkjet head wherein a pluralityof recording elements are vertically arranged in the direction normal tothe plane of drawing. The inkjet head 112 is driven by a driving circuitin accordance with the electric signals from a data source (not shown).When the leading end of the recording paper sheet reaches the secondfeed roller 108 after recording, the recording paper sheet is exhaustedto the exhaust tray 111 by the second feed roller 108 and the conveybelt 110.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of an original readout device at aninput section of the printing apparatus shown in FIG. 1, which has anoriginal glass table 401, a rod-shaped light source such as a halogenlamp or a fluorescent lamp, a first mirror 403, a second mirror 404, athird mirror 405, a lens 406, and a one-dimensional solid state imagepickup element 407 such as a CCD. An original handler 500 automaticallyfeeds an original 503 onto the original glass table 401. After scanningoperation, the original handler 500 automatically exhausts the originaland feeds the next original. The original handler 500 is free to open orclose with respect to the original glass table 401.

The mode of operation of the original readout device will be described.The original placed on the original glass table 401 is illuminated bylight emitted by the rod-shaped light source 402. The image of theoriginal is formed on the CCD 407 by the lens 406 through the firstmirror 403, the second mirror 404 and the third mirror 405 for scanning(subscanning) the original. The direction of main scanning of the CCD407 is normal to the plane of the drawing. The rod-shaped light source402 and the first mirror 403 are formed integrally with each other by asupport (not shown) and are moved in the direction indicated by arrow Fon guide rails (not shown) to scan (subscan) the image of the original.The second mirror 404 and the third mirror 405 are integrally supportedby a support (not shown) and are moved on guide rails (not shown) in thesame direction at a speed 1/2 the speed of the first mirror 403. Therod-shaped light source 402, the first mirror 403, the second mirror404, and the third mirror 405 are moved to the positions 402', 403',404' and 405' indicated by dotted lines. The length of the optical pathfrom the original glass table 401 through the mirrors 403, 404 and 405to the lens 406 is kept constant. Therefore, if the signals from thelight-receiving elements of the CCD 407 are sequentially read out,raster scanning signals of the original are sequentially obtained. Theoriginal handler 500 has a roller for picking up an original and feedingit on the original glass table, and a belt for setting the original orthe original glass table and exhausting the original from the originalglass table. When a sensor 504 senses the original set on the originalglass table, the original is scanned.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a control circuitry for the apparatus shownin FIGS. 1 and 2.

A CCD 1 corresponds to the CCD 407 shown in FIG. 2. A digitizer 2-1 ofknown configuration is connected to the output end of the CCD 1. Amemory 4-1 is a memory capable of writing and reading out data such as aRAM (random-access memory). The memory 4-1 has a line memory 41 having acapacity corresponding to one line of the CCD 1 and a page memory 42having a capacity corresponding to several pages of the original. Amemory control 5-1 includes a counter for specifying the memory address.First, second and third buffer circuits 6-1, 7-1 and 8-1 are connectedto the output end of the memory 4-1. First, second, and third drivingcircuits 9-1, 10-1 and 11-1 are connected to the output ends of thebuffer circuits 6-1, 7-1 and 8-1, respectively. First, second, thirdinkjet heads 12, 13 and 14 correspond to the first, second and thirdinkjet heads 112, 212 and 312, respectively. Sheet transfer systems 15,16 and 17 are for first, second and third recording sections(corresponding to 100, 200 and 300 shown in FIG. 1). A control 18-1controls the overall circuitry and mechanical parts and comprises amicrocomputer. This microcomputer has a program memory ROM, a processorMPU/ALU, and I/O ports. An operation panel 19-1 has a dial 20 forsetting the number of copies to be produced, a dial 21 for setting thenumber of pages of the original, a start button 22 for instructing thestart of the recording operation, a power source switch 23, and so on.The control 18-1 has a counter 24 for setting the number of copies to beproduced, a page counter 25 for counting the number of pages of theoriginal, and a copy counter 26 for displaying the number of copies ofthe same page of the original. These counters correspond to the memoryareas of the RAM (memory 4-1). An OR gate 30 is for inputting the imagesignal from the page memory 42 or the image signal from the CCD 1 to theline memory 41. The image signal from the CCD 1 is input to the pagememory 42 through a line 31. A memory control line 51 is for inputtingdata specifying the memory address, for example, to the address counter.A line 52 is for inputting the count data of the address counter to thecontrol or microcomputer 18-1 and serves to discriminate the size of theimage of the data stored in the memory. The ROM described above stores acontrol program of the flowchart to be described below. The MPU performsthe control operations to be described below by accessing the ROM, theRAM and the I/O ports.

The mode of operation of the circuitry shown in FIG. 3 will now bedescribed. The image data read out by the CCD 1 is binary-encoded ordigitized by the digitizer 2-1. For the sake of simplicity, thefollowing description will be made assuming that the digitizer 2-1performs binary encoding.

The binary coded signal from the digitizer 2-1 is stored in the memory4-1 through the buffer circuit 3-1. As has been described above, thememory 4-1 has the line memory 41 having a capacity corresponding to oneline and the page memory 42 having a capacity corresponding to severalpages. The image data corresponding to one line is read out and storedin the line memory 41 for sequential recording in units of lines.Alternatively, the image data corresponding to several pages may bestored in the page memory 42 and may then be read out for sequentialrecording in units of pages.

The memory control 5-1 is controlled by the control 18-1 and generatesan address signal, a timing signal, a read/write signal and so on forwriting and reading data in and out of the memory 4-1. The image datastored in the memory 4-1 is output to the buffer circuits 6-1, 7-1 and8-1 under the control of the memory control 5-1. The outputs from thebuffer circuits drive the inkjet heads 12, 13 and 14 through the drivingcircuits 9-1, 10-1 and 11-1, respectively, for recording. Since theoperation of the driving circuits 9-1, 10-1 and 11-1 is controlled bythe control 18-1, the inkjet heads 12, 13 and 14 are selected as needed.

The control 18-1 also controls the sheet transfer systems 15, 16 and 17comprising the pickup rollers 102, 202 and 302; the register rollers104, 204 and 304; the feed rollers 105, 205, 305, 108, 208 and 308; andso on. These rollers are driven by a single drive source (not shown)through a belt or the like and clutches (not shown). Alternatively,drive sources such as stepping motors may be directly coupled to theindividual rollers.

The control 18-1 systematically controls the on/off operation of theseclutches to transfer the recording paper sheet as has been describedwith reference to FIG. 1. As in the case of the inkjet heads, the sheettransfer systems 15 (for the recording section 100), 16 (for therecording section 200), and 17 (for the recording section 300) may beselected as needed.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the control flow according to the presentinvention. A description will be made for a case for copying elevencopies of an original of four pages. The page dial 21 on the operationpanel 19-1 is set to "4", the dial 20 is set to "11", and the copybutton 22 is depressed. In step S1, the control 18-1 reads the number ofpages L of the original and the number of copies N to be produced, andstore them in the page counter 25 and the counter 24, respectively. Instep S2, the number of copying operations M and the number of stages xof the recording section for the final recording operation arecalculated. Since there are three stages is this embodiment, threestages are used for the final recording operation if the number ofcopies to be produced is a multiple of 3. If not, one or two stages areused for the final copying operation. According to the embodiment, thenumber of copying operations M and the number of stages x are determinedby the following relation:

    N=3×(M-1)+x                                          (1)

The actual number of copies to be produced is substituted in N, theactual number of copying operations is substituted in M, and "0", "1"and "2" are substituted in x. The values of M and x which satisfyrelation (1) are determined.

According to this embodiment, N=11 is substituted in relation (1) above.Then, M is determined to be 4 and x is determined to be 2. These valuesof M and x are stored in the corresponding memory areas of the RAM.

In step S3, "1" is stored in both a copy counter 26 and the page counter25. In step S4, it is discriminated if the count of the copy counter 26is M or 4. In this case, the count of the copy counter 26 is "1".Therefore, the flow branches to NO to advance to step S5. An enablesignal is supplied to the driving circuits 9-1 to 11-1 to select all therecording sections. In step S6, it is discriminated if the count of thecopy counter 26 is "1". In this case, the count is "1". Therefore, theflow branches to YES to advance to step S7. In step S7, the scanningoperation described with reference to FIG. 2 is performed. The imagedata sequentially supplied from the buffer circuit 3-1 is temporarilystored in the line memory 41 in units of lines. The image data stored inthe line memory 41 is supplied in units of lines to the inkjet heads 12to 14 through the buffer circuits 6-1 to 8-1 and the driving circuits9-1 to 11-1. Each recording section records the image of one line. Theimage data of one line is also stored in the page memory 42. When theoriginal is scanned in units of lines and recording for one page iscompleted, the image data corresponding to one page is thus stored inthe page memory 42. In step S7, the original of one page is recorded onthree recording paper sheets to produce three copies.

In step S8, the count of the page counter 25 is incremented by one to"1". In step S9, it is discriminated if the count of the page counter 26is "1". In this case, the count of the counter 26 is "1". Therefore, itis discriminated in step S10 if N≦3. The flow advances to step S11wherein it is discriminated if the copy button 22 is turned on. When theoperator places the second page of the original on the original glasstable 401 (FIG. 2) and depresses the copy button 22, the flow advancesto step S12 wherein it is discriminated if the count of the page counter25 is larger than L or "4". If it is discriminated in step S11 that theimage data has been completely stored in the memory 4-1 by themicrocomputer or control 18-1, the original handler may be operated toexhaust the first page of the original. The automatic setting of thesecond page of the original on the original glass table and completionof this setting operation are discriminated to advance to step S12, inthis case. In the case of the example being described, the count of thepage counter 25 is "2". Therefore, the flow branches to NO to advance tostep S4. The sequence continues through steps S5, S6, S7, S8, S9 and S10to perform the first recording operation of the second page of theoriginal. Thus, the image data of the second page of the original is allstored in the page memory 42. The count of the copy counter 26 is "1",and the count of the page counter 25 is "3", at this time. When thethird page of the original is placed on the original glass table 401subsequently, steps are performed in the order of steps S12, S4, S5, S6,S7, S8, S9 and S10. The third page of the original is similarly recordedand the image data therefor is stored. Recording and storing of theimage data for the fourth page of the original are similarly performed.In step S9 wherein the recording of the fourth page is completed, thecount of the page counter 25 is "5" while that of the copy counter 26 is"1".

Assume that the operator depresses the copy button 22 for recordingfourth copy and thereafter of each page of the original. Then, since thecount of the page counter 25 is "5" in step S12, the flow branches toYES to advance to step S13. In step S13, the count of the page counter25 is incremented by one to "2". The flow then advances to step S14wherein it is discriminated if the count of the counter 26 is largerthan M or "4". Since the count of the copy counter 26 is "2" in thiscase, the flow advances to steps S4, S5 and S6. Since the count of thecopy counter 26 is "2" in step S6, the flow branches to NO to advance tostep S15. In step S15, the image data for the first page of the originalis read out from the page memory 42. Steps S8, S9, S12, S4, S5, S6 andS15 are repeated three times to record the forth to sixth copies of thesecond to fourth pages of the original.

In step S8, the count of the page counter 25 is incremented by one to"5". The flow advances to step S13 through steps S9 and S12 to make thecount of the page counter 25 to "1" and to increment the count of thecopy counter 26 by one to "3". The flow advances from step S14 to stepS15 through steps S4, S5 and S6. The same sequence as described above isrepeated to record the seventh to ninth copies of the first to fourthpages of the original. When the recording operation of the fourth pageis completed in step S15 and the flow advances through steps S8, S9, S12and S13, the count of the copy counter 26 is "4". When the flow advancesto step S4 through step S14, it branches to YES to advance to S16.

In this case, x is "2". Therefore, the flow advances to step S17 toselect the two stages of the recording sections 100 and 200, forexample. Thereafter, the recording section 300 does not performrecording. Then, the flow advances from step S6 to step S15 to recordthe tenth and eleventh copies of the first page of the original. Whensteps S8, S9, S12, S4, S16, S17, S6 and S15 are repeated three times asdescribed above, the tenth and eleventh copies of the second to fourthpages of the original are produced. When the flow advances through stepsS8, S9, S12 and S13, the count of the copy counter 26 becomes "5".Therefore, the flow branches to YES from step S14 and the sequence iscompleted.

When eleven copies of four pages each of the original are produced inthis manner, four copies of the first to fourth pages are exhausted tothe exhaust trays 114 and 214 of the recording sections 100 and 200 inthe sequential order. Meanwhile, three copies of the first to thirdpages are exhausted to the exhaust tray 314 of the recording section 300in sequential order.

According to this embodiment, a plurality of copies may be produced upona single scanning operation of the original even if the number of copiesexceeds the number of recording sections or recording heads. Thus, therecording time may be reduced to the minimum.

According to this embodiment, the recording section also serves as asorter when more than two copies of the same original are produced.Therefore, the manual or mechanical sorting operation after copyingoperation need not be performed, improving the copying efficiency.

The flow after step S18 corresponds to a case wherein a mode key A isdepressed or sorter function is released. In other words, N is resetafter recording every page of the original. In this case, the capacityof the page memory 42 may be made small to correspond to one page.

A case will now be described for producing a desired number of copies ata selected recording section or units.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the sequence in this case. A description willbe made on a case of producing five copies of an original of one page.The page dial 21 on the operation panel 19 is set to "1", the dial 20 isset to "5", and the copy button 22 is depressed. In step S1, the control18-1 reads out L and M and store them in the page counter 25 and thecopy counter 26, respectively. In step S2, it is discriminated if thenumber of pages is "1". Since the number of pages is "1" in this case,the flow advances to step S3-1 wherein one recording section, forexample, the recording section 100 is selected by depression of ten keyson the operation panel 19. This may be performed by inputting a number"100" to output an enable signal α1 to enable the driving circuit 9-1.The selection of the recording section 200 or 300 is similarlyperformed. If no data is input, the recording section 300 is selected.The enable signals α1 and α2 go to low level after a predetermined timefrom the completion of copying a desired number of copies.

The recording section is selected so that the recorded paper sheet maybe easily exhausted or seen. Therefore, the flow advances to step S4.

In step S4, the image data sequentially supplied from the buffer circuit3-1 is temporarily stored in the line memory 41 in units of lines. Theimage data is then read out and supplied in units of lines to the inkjethead 112 through the buffer circuit 6-1 and the driving circuit 9-1 forrecording one line. The image data of one line is also stored in thepage memory 42. When the image data is read out and recorded in units oflines to complete recording one page, the image data of one page isstored in the page memory 42. In step S4, one copy of the original ofone page is produced.

In step S5, the count of the counter 24 is decremented to "4". The flowthen advances to step S6 wherein it is discriminated if the count or thecounter 24 is "0". Since it is "4" in this case, the flow advances tostep S7. In step S7, the image data of one page stored in the pagememory 42 is sequentially read out to record in units of lines at therecording section 100. Steps S5, S6 and S7 are repeated a predeterminednumber of times until the count of the counter 24 reaches "0". Then, theflow branches to YES from step S6. The flow ends and five copies of theoriginal of one page are produced.

If the number of pages of the original is more than 1, the flow shown inFIG. 4 is executed. In steps S3-1 to S3-3, one of the sheet transfersystems 15 to 17 is selected to feed the recording paper sheets atpredetermined timings.

If it is desired to shorten the recording time for recording a pluralityof copies of an original of one page, all the recording sections may beused for recording instead of using one recording section.

A plurality of copies of an original of a plurality of pages may beproduced at selected recording sections in such a manner that the copiesmay be exhausted in sequential order.

The size of the printed copy will now be described.

FIG. 6 is a control flowchart for monitoring the size of the image ofdata stored in the memory so as to select a suitable recording section.In step S1, the incremented count of the address counter after storageof the image data of one image in the page memory 42 is input to themicrocomputer or control 18-1 for checking. In step S2, the stop addressof the address counter at the time of completion of storage of the datais subtracted from the start address at the time of start of storage. Ifthe difference obtained is large in step S3-1, the image size isdiscriminated to be large. Then, an enable signal α3 is output to drivethe driving circuit 11-1 for driving the recording section 300. If thedifference is small, the recording section 100 is selected. If thedifference is intermediate, the recording section 200 is selected Theimage data is then read out from the memory 42 for printing at theselected recording section (step S4). A cassette holding sheets of largesize is mounted on the recording section 300, a cassette holding sheetsof intermediate size is mounted on the recording section 200, and acassette holding sheets of small size is mounted on the recordingsection 100. The copy may be printed in accordance with the image sizein case a plurality of images is stored in the page memory 42.

FIG. 7 is a control flowchart for printing in accordance with the sizeinput from the operation panel 19-1 In step S1, a size key L, M or S isoperated. According to the size key L, M or S operated, the drivingcircuit 9-1, 10-1 or 11-1 is enabled to select one of the sheet transfersystems 15 to 17. In step S2, the key data is converted into stopaddress data for the address counter. In step S3, the address counter ismonitored after depression of the copy button. When the monitoredaddress reaches the stop address (step S4), the writing operation ofdata into the memory 42 is stopped (step S5). Thus, the image datacorresponding to the input size is stored in the memory 42 and printingof the data may be performed. This may alternatively be performed bymonitoring the line memory or monitoring the address from which the datais read out. The size data need not input by the size key L, M or S butmay be input through cassette size sensors or sheet size sensors at therecording sections 100 to 300. Therefore, copies may be produced inaccordance with the sheet size. This example (especially those shown inFIGS. 5 to 8) may be applied when one recording section is used and aplurality of inkjet heads of different line widths may be selected, whenone recording section is used and a plurality of sheet transfer systemsmay be selected, or when one recording section is used and a pluralityof exhaust trays may be selected.

It is also possible to select one inkjet head according to the sizediscrimination of L, M or S. FIG. 8 shows a circuit diagram of anexample of the circuitry for achieving this. In this example, an inkjethead 10 consists of 14 blocks each having 128 nozzles. These nozzles arefor printing dots. When the image size is large, all the 14 blocks ofthe head are enabled. When the size is intermediate, the fourteenthblock is disabled. When the size is small, the thirteenth and fourteenthblocks are disabled. Therefore, the sheet transfer belt may not becontaminated even if the size of the image data output is larger thanthe sheet size.

According to the example of FIGS. 6 to 8, a desired number of copies canbe produced for each page of the original in sequential order. This maybe seen by modifying the flow shown in FIG. 4, using one recordingsection.

Since a plurality of copies is recorded by a single recording section orhead, handling of the recording paper sheet is easy.

It is also possible to display the image size utilizing a size signal.

An embodiment will now be described wherein a plurality of recordingsections or heads are substantially equally used.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the sequence for this purpose. As shown inthis flowchart, according to this embodiment, the recording sections tobe used are selected from the recording sections 100, 200 and 300. L andN specified by the operator are loaded in step S1. If L is "1", the flowbranches to YES from step S2. In step S100, one recording section isdriven for recording irrespective of the value of M. For selection ofthe recording section, a unit indicator 26 (corresponding to theparticular area of the RAM) of the control 18-1 is used. The unitindicator 26 comprises a ternary counter. Every time the unit indicator26 is incremented by one, the recording sections are specified in theorder of 100, 200, 300, 100, 200, and so on. In step S100, the count ofthe unit indicator 26 is read out and the selection of the recordingsection is discriminated (step S100-1). The selected recording sectionis driven to perform recording (step S100-2). After recording, the unitindicator 26 is incremented by one (step S100-5).

If L is more than 1, the flow branches to NO from step S2 to advance tostep S3. If M is 3 or more in this case, the flow advances to step S200,and recording is performed at all of the recording sections 100, 200 and300 (step S200-1). After recording, the unit indicator 26 is incrementedby 3 (step S200-2).

If L is 2, the flow advances to step S300. In step S300-1, the dataindicated by the unit indicator 26 is read out. The recording sectionselected by the readout data from the unit indicator 26 and the nextrecording section are selected and driven for recording (step S300-2).After recording, the unit indicator 25 is incremented by "2" (stepS300-3).

If L is 1 in step S4, the flow advances to step S400. The data indicatedby the unit indicator 26 is read out (step S400-1). Recording isperformed at the selected recording section (step S400-2). Afterrecording, the unit indicator 26 is incremented by one (step S400-3).

A printing apparatus or system of this embodiment will now be describedin further detail with reference to a case for producing five copies ofan original of two pages.

The page dial 21 on the operation panel 19 is set to "2", the dial 20 isset to "5", and the copy button 22 is depressed. In step S0 shown in theflowchart of FIG. 4, the depression of the copy button 22 isdiscriminated by the control 18-1. The flow then advances to step S1wherein L=2 and N=5 are loaded and stored in the page counter 25 and thecounter 24, respectively. In step S2, it is discriminated if the countof the page counter 25 is "1". Since the count of the page counter 25 is"2" in this case, the flow advances to step S3 wherein it isdiscriminated if M stored in the counter 24 is 3 or more. In this case,the flow branches to YES (N=5>3) to advance to step S200. In step S200,the copy indicator 26 is read out under the control of the control 18-1in step S200-1. The recording section indicated by the unit indicator 26(to be referred to as the indicated recording section hereinafter) andthe remaining recording sections, that is, all recording sections areselected for simultaneous recording of three copies (step S200-2). Then,the copy indicator 26 is incremented by "3" (step S200-3). "3" issubtracted from the count of the counter 24 to "2" (step S200-4).

If the copy indicator indicates the recording section 100 at the firsttime, when the indicator 26 is incremented by "3" in step S200-3, theindicated recording section changes in the order of 100, 200, 300, and100. In step S100, it is discriminated if the count of the counter 24 is"0". Since the count of the counter 24 is "2" in this case, the flowbranches to NO to return to step S3. In step S3, the flow branches to NOto advance to step S4. In step S4, it is discriminated if the count ofthe counter 24 is "2". The flow branches to YES from step S4 to advanceto step S300. In step S300, the data of the unit indicator 26 is firstread out in step S300-1 to select the indicated recording section (therecording section 100 in this case) as well as the next recordingsection (the recording section 200 in this case). These two recordingsections are simultaneously driven for recording in step S300-2. Theunit indicator 26 is then incremented by "2" to select the recordingsection 300 in step S300-3.

Thus, the copying operation of the original of one page for N=5 isterminated, and the flow advances to step S11. In step S11, "1" issubtracted from the count of the page counter 25 to make it "1". In stepS12, it is discriminated if the count of the page counter 25 is "0".Since the flow branches to NO in this case, it advances to step S13 towait for a start signal for the next page. The second page of theoriginal is then placed on the original glass table 401 to depress thecopy button 22. N=5 set by the dial 20 is stored in the counter 24 inthe control 18-1 in step S14. The flow returns to step S3. Then, thesecond page of the original is recorded in the same manner as the firstpage. In step S200, copying is performed at all of the recordingsections 100, 200 and 300. The data of the unit indicator 26 isincremented by "3" to select the recording section 300. In step S300,the recording sections 300 and 100 are driven for recording. The unitindicator 26 is incremented by "2" to change the indicated recordingsection from the recording section 300 to the recording section 200.

After producing five copies of the second page of the original, "1" issubtracted from the count of the page counter 25 in step S11. In stepS12, it is discriminated if the count of the page counter 25 is "0".Since YES is obtained in this case, it is thus discriminated thatcopying for L=2 and N=5 has been completed.

A case for producing one copy each of the original of two pages will nowbe described. In this case, in step S1, L=2 and N=1 are stored in thecounter 24 and the page counter 25, respectively. The flow advancesthrough steps S2, S3 and S4 along the paths of NO. In step S400,recording is performed. In this case, recording is performed at therecording section 200 which is indicated by the unit indicator 26 (stepS400-2). After recording, the unit indicator 26 is incremented by "1",and the indicated recording section is changed from the recordingsection 200 to the recording section 300. As for recording of the secondpage, it is performed at the recording section 300 in step S400. Theunit indicator 26 is incremented by "1" to change the indicatedrecording section to the recording section 100.

In order to subsequently copy an original of one page, a discriminationof YES is made in step S2 and the flow advances to step S100. In stepS100, the data of the unit indicator 26 is read out in step S100-1. Therecording section 100 is selected and recording is performed in stepS100-2. In step S100-3, "1" is subtracted from the count of the counter24. It is then discriminated in step S100-4 if the count of the counter24 is "0". If the discrimination result is NO, the flow returns to stepS100-1 again for performing recording at the recording section 100. Thisloop is repeated until the count of the counter 24 becomes "0". When thecount of the counter 24 becomes "0", YES is obtained in step S100-4 toadvance to step S100-5. In step S100-5, the unit indicator 26 isincremented by "1" to select the recording section 200 as the indicatedrecording section. The copying operation is thus completed.

In the description made above, three recording sections are used.However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, thepresent invention may be similarly applied to a printing apparatus orsystem which has n stages (where n=1, 2, 3 and so on) of recordingsections as shown in FIG. 10.

In the embodiment described above, a plurality of recording sections aresequentially used. Therefore, a particular recording section may not beused more frequently than the others, preventing wear at only somerecording sections. Moreover, a particular recording section may not beleft unused for a prolonged period of time, preventing clogging of ink.The present invention is similarly applicable to a printing apparatus orsystem wherein at least one recording section has a plurality ofrecording heads.

Another embodiment of the present invention for performing recording indifferent modes according to the original color will now be described.

FIG. 11 shows a printing apparatus according to this embodiment, whichhas, in addition to the parts shown in FIG. 1, two recording heads foreach of the recording sections 100 to 300 such as inkjet heads 112-1,112-2, 212-1, 212-2, 312-1 and 312-2. Each of these inkjet heads is afull-line type inkjet head wherein a plurality of recording elements arelinearly arranged in the direction normal to the plane of the drawing.These recording heads perform recording in accordance with electricsignals from a data source (not shown). In this embodiment, the inkjetheads 112-1, 212-1 and 312-1 perform the black normal mode recording at16 dot/mm density, while the inkjet heads 112-1, 212-2 and 312-2 performthe red normal mode recording at 8 dot/mm density. The rest of thearrangement remains the same as that shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 12 shows a readout device for the apparatus shown in FIG. 11. Thereadout device shown in FIG. 12 further has lenses 406 and 406' arrangedin the direction normal to the surface of the sheet and color separationbeam splitters 409 and 409' corresponding thereto, in addition to theparts shown in FIG. 2. These color separation beam splitters 409 and409' have the spectral characteristics to reflect light of longwavelength and to transmit light of short wavelength. One-dimensionalsolid stage image pickup elements (e.g., CCDs) 407R and 407B, and 408Rand 408B are arranged in correspondence with the beam splitters 409 and409', respectively.

The lens 406, the beam splitter 409, and the CCDs 407R and 407Bconstitute one optical system, while the lens 496', the beam splitter409', and the CCDs 408R and 408B constitute the other optical system.These two optical systems are optically equivalent to each other; eachreads half of one main scanning line (normal to the plane of drawing)Therefore, if the image signals output from the CCDs are sequentiallyread out, raster scanning signals of the entire main scanning line areobtained.

The mode of operation of the readout device shown in FIG. 12 is similarto that described with reference to FIG. 2, except that the images areformed on the CCDs 407B, 408B, 407R and 408R by the lenses 406 and 406'.

FIG. 13 shows a block diagram of an example of a control for theapparatus shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. The control has digitizers 2-2 and2-3; a color discriminating circuit 3-2 shown in detail in FIG. 16; apicture element density converting circuit 3-3 shown in detail in FIG.15; a memory 4-2 capable of reading and writing data; a memory control5-2; buffer circuits 6-2, 7-2 and 8-2; driving circuits 9-2 to 11-3; andthe inkjet heads 112-1 to 312-2 as shown in FIG. 11. A main control 18-2controls the overall electric circuitry and mechanical parts. The maincontrol 18-2 comprises a microcomputer as in the case of the control 18as shown in FIG. 3. An operation panel 19-2 has a dial for setting thenumber of copies to be produced, a recording section selection button, astart button, and so on.

The mode of operation of the control shown in FIG. 13 will now bedescribed. The CCDs 407B, 408B, 407R and 408R are all of the 1,728 bitconfiguration. The image data read by these CCDs is of 16 bit/mmdensity. The image data of 16 bit/mm density read out and output by theCCDs is digitized by the digitizer circuits 2-2 and 2-3. The digitizeddata is supplied to the color discriminating circuit 302 fordiscrimination of black or red.

The color discrimination is performed in the following manner. Since theCCDs 407B and 408B sense light of short wavelength, they are sensitiveto white background of the original (where there is no image) and arenot sensitive to black and red portions of the original. On the otherhand, the CCDs 407R and 408R sense light of long waveform and aretherefore sensitive to white background and red original and are notsensitive to black original. Therefore, if outputs are obtained from allof the CCDs, the original is white background. If no output is obtainedfrom the CCDs, the original is a black original. If outputs are notobtained from the CCDs 407B and 408B and outputs are obtained from theCCDs 407R and 408R, the original is a red original. The discriminationalgorithm is shown in Table 1 below.

                  TABLE 1                                                         ______________________________________                                                    Black    Red       White                                                      original original  original                                       ______________________________________                                        CCD 407B (Short                                                                             No output  No output Output                                     CCD 408B wavelength)               produced                                   CCD 407R (Long                                                                              No output  Output    Output                                     CCD 408R wavelength)     produced  produced                                   ______________________________________                                    

For this purpose, the color discriminating circuit 3-2 may have theconfiguration as shown in FIG. 16, which has inverters 561 and 562 andAND gates 563 and 564. When the CCDs 407B, 408B, 407R and 408R senselight, the digitizers 2-2 and 2-3 produce signals of high level or level"H". Therefore, only when both digitizer circuits 2-2 and 2-3 producethe signals of low level or level "L", the AND gate 563 produces asignal of level "H", thus providing a black signal B. Only when thesignal output from the digitizer circuit 2-2 is of level "L"and thatfrom the digitizer circuit 2-3 is of level "H", the AND gate 564produces a signal of level "H", thereby providing a red signal R.

Of these black and red signals B and R, the black signal B is stored inthe memory 4-2 comprising a RAM (random-access memory) in the fine modeof 16 bit/mm density. On the other hand, the red signal R is supplied tothe picture element density converting circuit 3-3 to be converted intothe normal mode data of 8 bit/mm density and is stored in the memory4-2.

FIG. 15 shows an example of the picture element density convertingcircuit for main scanning. A clock circuit 531 produces pulses P1corresponding to the number of bits of one line of the CCD and pulses P2numbering half that of the pulses P1. One-bit latches 532 and 533receive the pulses P1, while one-bit latch 534 receives the pulses P2.These one-bit latches latch 1-bit data in response to these pulses P1and P2. An OR gate 535 receives the data of the first bit from thedigitizer circuit as delayed by one bit through the 1-bit latch 532 andalso receives the data of the second bit from the digitizer circuit. TheOR gate 535 produces an OR product of the input data, which is suppliedto the 1-bit latch 534. In the normal mode according to this embodiment,when both of two adjacent bits of the data are "1" or when either is"1", the image signal "1" is produced. On the other hand, if both bitsare "0", the image data "0" is produced The input data of 16 bit/mmdensity is converted into the image data of 8 bit/mm density toestablish the normal mode. The output data from the 1-bit latch 533 isthe image data of the fine mode and of 16 bit/mm density, which isdelayed by two clocks. In this embodiment, the logic OR of the data oftwo adjacent bits is obtained for conversion of the input data into thenormal data. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Forexample, an AND product may alternatively be used or sampling at everyother bit may be performed. The fine mode based on the picture elementdensity conversion in the subscanning direction may also be easilyperformed by varying the subscanning speed of the CCDs and the recordingspeeds of the recording sections corresponding thereto.

The memory and the memory control for the apparatus shown in FIG. 13 areof similar configurations as those shown in FIG. 3.

The black and red signals B and R read out from the memory 4-2 areoutput to the buffer circuits 6-2 to 8-2 under the control of the memorycontrol 5-2. The black and red signals R and B supplied to these buffercircuits are then supplied to the corresponding ones of the black inkjetheads 112-1, 212-1 and 312-1 and red inkjet heads 112-2, 212-2 and312-2. The driving circuits 9-2 to 11-3 are controlled by the control18-2 for the purpose of selection of the recording sections, as has beendescribed with reference to FIG. 3. When the recording section selectionbutton on the operation panel 19-2 is depressed, the correspondingdriving circuit of the selected recording section is driven under thecontrol of the control 18-2. Recording is thus performed. The blackinkjet heads perform fine mode recording of 16 dot/mm density inaccordance with the black signals B of 16 bit/mm density. The red inkjetheads perform normal mode recording of 8 dot/mm density in accordancewith the red signals R of 8 bit/mm density. Thus, a black image whichrequires high resolution is printed at high density while a red imagewhich does not require high resolution as much as the black image isrecorded at low density.

FIG. 14 shows still another embodiment of the present invention. Thisembodiment adopts a CCD 507B for reading the normal mode image data of 8bit/mm density in place of the CCDs 407B and 408B. For recording inblack at the recording sections 100, 200 and 300, the image data of 16bit/mm density read out by the CCDs 407R and 407B is used. For recordingin red, the image data of 16 bit/mm density and that of 8 bit/mm densityrespectively read out by the CCDs 407R and 408R and the CCD 507B forsensing light of short wavelength are used. The image data read out bythe CCDs 407R and 408R is supplied to the digitizer circuit 2-2 to bedigitized and is then supplied to the memory 4-2 and the picture elementdensity converting circuit 3-3. The picture element density convertingcircuit 3-3 produces the normal image data of 8 bit/mm which is thensupplied to the color discriminating circuit 3-2. Meanwhile, the imagedata of normal mode and of 8 bit/mm density read out by the CCD 507B issupplied to the color discriminating circuit 3-2 through the digitizercircuit 2-3. The color discriminating circuit 3-2 supplies the imagedata of 8 bit/mm density which has been subjected to colordiscrimination.

As shown in Table 1, the CCDs 407R and 408R are not sensitive to a blackoriginal. If the black original is to be copied, the image data of 16bit/mm density is supplied to and stored in the memory 4-2. The CCDs407R and 408R are sensitive to a red original or white background. Ifthe original is a red original, the image data of 16 bit/mm density readout by the CCDs 407R and 408R is supplied to the memory 4-2 but is notstored therein. This image data of 16 bit/mm density is also supplied tothe picture element density converting circuit 3-3 which supplies theconverted image data to the color discriminating circuit 3-2. The imagedata of 8 bit/mm density is also supplied to the color discriminatingcircuit 3-2 from the CCD 507B. On the basis of these pieces of imagedata, the color discriminating circuit 3-2 performs color discriminationof red and supplies the red image data of 8 bit/mm density to the memory4-2 to be stored therein. Thus, the memory 4-2 stores the fine modeblack data of 16 bit/mm density as well as the normal mode red data of 8bit/mm density. In the same manner as with the embodiment shown in FIG.3, fine mode black recording of 16 bit/mm density or normal mode redrecording of 8 bit/mm recording may be freely performed.

In this embodiment, recording in black which requires high resolution isperformed in the fine mode, while recording in red which does notrequire that much high resolution is performed in the normal mode.Therefore, the black portion of the original maintains its sharpnesswhile the control system for recording in red may be simplified inconfiguration. Thus, power consumption is reduced to the minimum, andthe cost of the apparatus may also be reduced to the minimum.

In the embodiments described above, the description has been made withreference to the case of recording in black and red. However, thepresent invention is not limited to this. Moreover, the recordingdensity is not limited to 16 dots/mm and 8 dots/mm.

It is also possible to perform halftone mode recording by the ditherprocessing or binary mode recording by without adoption of the ditherprocessing.

By performing the copy number control as has been described withreference to FIGS. 4 to 10, it is possible to produce a desired numberof copies in the sequential order at a specific or all recordingsections.

Upon reception of an input signal from the operation panel, the control18-2 can output a control signal so as to allow selection of conversionoperation by the picture element converting circuit.

In the embodiments described above, the recording means are inkjetheads. Although the inkjet heads are advantageous for compactarrangement, the present invention is not limited to this. For example,thermal recording or electrostatic recording heads may be used instead.In the embodiments described above, the image data is the data of theoriginal read out by the solid state image pickup elements. However, theimage data may be characters, figures and so on which are generated bycharacter generators or the like.

What we claim is:
 1. A printing apparatus or system,comprising:generating means for generating color image data representinga color image including a number of colors; forming means connected tosaid generating means for forming a color image on a recording medium inplural image quality modes different from each other on the basis of thecolor image data from said generating means; and selecting menasconnected to said forming means for selecting one of said image qualitymodes, each corresponding to a color included in the color imagerepresented by the color image data generated by said generating means.2. A printing apparatus or system according to claim 1, wherein saidgenerating means includes reading means for color-separating and readinga color original.
 3. A printing apparatus or system according to claim1, wherein the plural image quality modes provide different resolutionsof the image formed on the recording medium.
 4. A printing apparatus orsystem according to claim 1, wherein said forming means is capable ofproviding an image in which one color has a different resolution fromother colors.
 5. A printing apparatus of system according to claim 4,wherein said forming means is capable of providing a black image havinga different resolution from images of other colors.
 6. A printingapparatus or system according to claim 1, wherein said forming meansincludes a plurality of recording sections for recording images havingdifferent resolutions from each other and said selecting means selectsone of said recording sections.
 7. A printing apparatus or system,comprising:reading means for reading a color original image andgenerating color image data representing the color original image;procession means connected to said reading means for processing thecolor image data from said reading means in order to perform color imageformation so that one image color may have a different resolution fromother image colors; and forming means connected to said processing meansfor forming on a recording medium a color image having a differentresolution from other color images in accordance with the color imagedata processed by said processing means.
 8. A printing apparatus orsystem according to claim 7, wherein said processing means includesmeans for converting color image data into color image data havingdifferent resolutions.
 9. A printing apparatus or system according toclaim 7, wherein said forming means is capable of providing a blackimage having a different resolution from images of other colors.
 10. Aprinting apparatus of system according to claim 7, wherein said readingmeans color-separates the color original image and reads the separatedcolor original images.
 11. A printing apparatus or system according toclaim 7, wherein said forming means includes a plurality of recordingsections for recording images having different resolutions from eachother.